Istinye University
Quick answer: Istinye University is a private (foundation) university in Istanbul, founded in 2015, that admits Azerbaijani school leavers on their national school certificate without the YÖS exam. According to the UNINTURKEY database, discounted bachelor’s fees start at $7,000 a year, and under EDDE Global’s 2025 memorandum a complete doctorate costs $5,800 ($1,450 a year).
Istinye is tied to the MLP Care / Medical Park hospital group, which is why medicine, dentistry and pharmacy are its flagship subjects. Alongside them it teaches engineering, business, architecture and the social sciences in both English and Turkish, and EDDE Global, as a long-standing partner, has negotiated special terms for Azerbaijani applicants.
Background on the partnership: EDDE Global and Istinye University memorandum.
Istinye at a glance
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| City | Istanbul |
| Type | Private (foundation) university, 2015 |
| Students | approximately 13,839 |
| Programmes (UNINTURKEY database) | 206 — associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral |
| Admission | Azerbaijani school certificate, no YÖS required |
| Ranking | Times Higher Education: world top 1000, top 500 in engineering (as reported in the media) |
Source: uninturkey.com, Yeni Çağ and Editor.az news reports — checked 11/2026.
Discounted fees for 2026/27
| Level / programme | Fee | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s (49 programmes) | $7,000 – $27,550 | per year |
| Medicine (English, 6 years) | $27,550 | per year |
| Dentistry (English, 5 years) | $23,275 | per year |
| Pharmacy (English, 5 years) | $14,250 | per year |
| Master’s (52 programmes) | $8,000 – $15,000 | whole programme |
| Doctorate (71 programmes) | $5,800 – $15,000 | whole programme |
Source: uninturkey.com (discounted prices for applications via UNINTURKEY) — checked 11/2026.
In the English-taught bachelor’s range, radio, cinema and television and new media and communication cost $7,000 a year, while international relations, psychology, architecture, business administration, computer and software engineering cost $8,000. English-taught master’s degrees such as business administration, cybersecurity and computer engineering are $8,000 for the 1.5-year options and $8,500 for the 2-year thesis tracks. In Turkish, the database lists 23 bachelor’s programmes ($7,000–$21,850 a year), 36 master’s, 62 doctoral programmes and 34 two-year associate degrees at $2,700–$5,000 a year; Turkish-taught study usually needs a Turkish certificate or a one-year preparatory year, which the closeness of the two languages makes far easier for Azerbaijanis.
What the EDDE Global partnership changes
- Doctoral discount: Editor.az reported on 13 May 2025 that the doctoral fee fell from $12,500 to $5,800 ($1,450 a year).
- Exclusive memorandum (2025): signed in Istanbul, it sets the four-year doctorate, normally $15,000, at $5,800 for anyone applying through EDDE Global.
- On air: joint appearances with Istinye’s international relations team on PLANET FM (“Baku Electro”).
Admission route, step by step
- Pick a programme from the full list with fees on UNINTURKEY.
- Gather documents: school certificate and transcript for a bachelor’s; diploma and transcript for postgraduate study; passport and photo.
- Prove English with a certificate, or sit the university’s own test and join its preparatory school if needed — see in-house English tests.
- Receive your offer: a complete file earns a conditional letter, and final admission follows the initial payment.
- Arrive in Turkey to register and obtain a student residence permit (ikamet).
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter Istinye without the YÖS?
Yes. Applicants holding an Azerbaijani school certificate can apply with no YÖS score.
Is medicine taught in English?
Yes. There are English-taught programmes in medicine (6 years), dentistry (5 years) and pharmacy (5 years).
Are psychology and business offered in English?
Yes. Psychology, business, architecture and international relations are all taught in English, with fees shown in the table above and on the university page.
Will an Istinye diploma be recognised in Azerbaijan?
Recognition is handled through the nostrification rules, so check the current requirements before you enrol.
Plan it with us
As Istinye’s partner in Azerbaijan, EDDE Global can take you from choosing a programme to holding an offer letter. Book a free consultation.